PART 4HEARINGS

Private hearings

Court's general power to authorise publication of information about proceedings4

1

For the purposes of the law relating to contempt of court, information relating to proceedings held in private (whether or not contained in a document filed with the court) may be communicated in accordance with paragraph (2) or (3).

2

The court may make an order authorising—

a

the publication or communication of such information or material relating to the proceedings as it may specify; or

b

the publication of the text or a summary of the whole or part of a judgment or order made by the court.

3

Subject to any direction of the court, information referred to in paragraph (1) may be communicated in accordance with Practice Direction 4A.

4

Where the court makes an order under paragraph (2) it may do so on such terms as it thinks fit, and in particular may—

a

impose restrictions on the publication of the identity of—

i

any party;

ii

P (whether or not a party);

iii

any witness; or

iv

any other person;

b

prohibit the publication of any information that may lead to any such person being identified;

c

prohibit the further publication of any information relating to the proceedings from such date as the court may specify; or

d

impose such other restrictions on the publication of information relating to the proceedings as the court may specify.

5

The court may on its own initiative or upon request authorise communication—

a

for the purposes set out in Practice Direction 4A; or

b

for such other purposes as it considers appropriate,

of information held by it.